The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens What Sloths Teach Us About the Superorganism
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Oct 17, 2025 A striking photograph of a sloth climbing a barbed wire fence sparks a deep reflection on how both animals and humans respond to artificial environments. The discussion explores the idea of modern societal vices, like certainty and anthropocentrism, as contemporary interpretations of the deadly sin of sloth. Nate Hagens questions how we can reclaim agency in the face of a global superorganism threatening local ecosystems and suggests concrete steps for fostering resilience and compassion in our communities.
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Mesmerizing Sloth Photo Captures a Story
- Nate Hagens describes a National Geographic finalist photo of a sloth climbing a barbed-wire fence in Costa Rica that captured his attention for hours.
- He uses the image as art that mesmerizes and tells a story about human impacts on nature.
Fence Post As Supernormal Stimulus
- Hagens links the fence post to the idea of supernormal stimuli: novel cues that hijack evolved instincts.
- The sloth climbs the fence post because it mimics ancestral refuge cues amplified by human artifacts.
Different Local Views On Wildlife Value
- Nate contrasts how outsiders value species like sloths while locals may see them differently, referencing Maasai lion hunts and local responses to pests.
- He reflects on personal fascination with sloths and how scarcity and beauty are locally perceived.
